Showing posts with label Colors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colors. Show all posts

Thursday, October 13, 2011

My salmon pink dining chairs DIY!

I can't really remember the last time I was this excited about a set of dining chairs.  Perhaps never.

I have to say I was pretty nervous about this move...painting my mom's old dining chairs bright salmon pink in extra high gloss was a bold move.  But now that they're finished and amazingly reupholstered by my mom in Ralph Lauren chintz, I don't know if I've ever loved a piece of furniture more.

Pairing with a glass-top table I think helps prevent too much going on in a small space.  I also love the way my grandparents' silver tea set looks, lending some polish without adding any additional color saturation.

Adding some wall decoration is the next step.  Perhaps the cat portrait from my post below...?




The view from my kitchen


And the before...


The chairs were a whitish cream color before.
Here they are set up in my parents' front yard, ready for a good sanding!  Emily is going to help...


Yes, this is the upholstery color from before.  No, it did not ever appear this way in my mother's house.



I ended up doing all the painting with a flat oil paint brush. It allowed me to apply an even layer around some of the trickier turns and corners. Plus, I sometimes like when you can see some brush strokes (as opposed to spray painting) because I think it gives things a handmade quality.

Monday, October 10, 2011

DIY Navy Blue Lattice Dresser

They said it couldn't be done!

My mom tried to convince me to not take her hideous old washstand (her words!) to my house but I was sure I could give it a new life with a coat of paint.  Plus, it had my all-time most favorite attribute - it was free.

I forgot to take a "before" picture so here is a "mid-project" picture:

 You can sort of see evidence on the door of how beaten up it was to start with.

And here is the "after":

The drawers used to have pulls instead of knobs so I hid the extra holes inside a criss-cross...



Yup, it needs a little decor help but, hey, I'm just getting started!



I got some inspiration from these lovely dresser DIYs - so many fun ideas to choose from!


Monday, August 15, 2011

Pink Dining Chairs

This weekend I started painting my dining chairs a pink/orange/red color.  I am fully aware that this will embarrass me in about 15 years or fewer but right now I think it's pretty great.

I'll post pictures when they're all done.  In the meantime...fabulous or decor disaster?  I think FABULOUS.

PS to my mother and sister:  See the grey couch in the second photo?? I told you it would match!

Elle Decor

House Beautiful, January 2011

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Color Block Thursdays - Purple

Purple is popping up in home decor a lot these days.  Maybe because it looks chic, refreshing, cozy and fun all at the same time.  Rooms done in several shades of purple have a high drama factor but little splashes of purple here and there can be also be a good way to brighten up a room in an unexpected way.

Elle Decor
House Beautiful
Bright Bazaar
House Beautiful
Savvy Home
the Decorista

Monday, March 21, 2011

Monday's Bold Statement - Bright Italian Colors!

Alright, this week's Monday's Bold Statement is a little bit of a stretch since it really doesn't have anything to do with decorating.  But I am so excited about my bright, colorful pictures from Italy that I just couldn't wait to share them!  And I DO think they would look excellent framed in a kitchen....

Getting started off with the Italian flag on a cobblestone street in Rome

Some fruits and dried peppers at Campo de Fiori
Someone painted this beautiful wall nearly 2000 years ago in the city of Pompei

Oranges and an artistic lightbulb in a Sorrento citrus grove.  Credit to my sister for going to ridiculous lengths to obtain this photo :)

Fruit baskets outside a trattoria

Some delicious confections!

The Sorrrento citrus grove again (maybe the only pretty thing in Sorrento, but it was darn pretty!)


A beautiful cobblestone street on a rainy night in Rome

Hanging onions at Campo de Fiori

Vegetables outside a trattoria in Rome

Beautiful flowers at Campo de Fiori

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.....not all they're "cracked" up to be...;)

I loved the beautiful color on this building near the Trevi Fountain

Some gelato, of course!

And the best for last......

A pretty, pretty gladiator at the Colosseum

Monday, March 14, 2011

Monday's Bold Statement (from Italia!!) - Chartreuse Textured Wallpaper

Chartreuse textured wallpaper?  I have to say, I'm not sure what midlife crisis or lost bet inspired this choice of wall covering in an otherwise fairly neutral room, but, for some reason I personally think it works.  This is one risky moved that turned out to be a winner!

the Decorista

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Color Block Thursdays - Black (Doors)

Putting a shiny black door on a room is like putting it in a little black dress.  Fab.

Apartment Therapy
Jonathan Adler via Apartment Therapy
Veranda